Trailer repair

[MMW]

Had to go pick up an aluminum ramp to weld today. While I was there the driver/owner asked me about "putting a little weld on his trailer to make it stronger". "Maybe a brace too?" Holy crap! I told him no way am I going to just try to do a patch job. It needs to be fixed right as it is dangerous & will keep getting worse. I am supposed to come up with a price when I drop off the ramp. He was more worried about the deck being buckled & not flat then he was about the structure.

[elvis]

Wow. Overloaded much? I'd like to know how that turns out. That is a lot of re-engineering to get that back up and rolling safely.

[eecervantes83]

Looks like it will need new uprights.& a section of decking.
Keep us updated. Looks like a good project.

[sturugged]

Thats a jackpot job!

I agree with everyone here, this could be a very nice repair project to get the trailer back up to snuff. I guess it depends on if the owner will spend the money to do it properly. There are a lot of shady acres types that dont or are just too cheap to do it.
As in another one of the replies , there is a certain amount of engineering , and liability. That unit would probly have to be inspected by the DOT? the sad thing is if they dont want to do it right you would be better to take out the torch and butcher it up for the good off everybody else on the road!

[Fishy Jim]

Overloaded or was it in a collision?

The bends look like the deck tried to keep going when the tongue didn't want to.

[MMW]

He told me that there was a car on the front deck & a large fork truck drove on the trailer to pick up the car. When the fork truck picked up the car that put all the weight about 18-24" behind the drop which just bent it. He did not have the landing gear down which if he did most likely would have been o/k.

These trailers are built very lightweight. The upright tubes are 4x4x3/16" tube. My initial thoughts are cutting the lower deck loose from the uprights, with it disconnected & the landing gear down then carefully push down on the front of the top deck to get it straight. After it is straight then I will decide on the next move, either replace or repair. But at this point I'm just trying to come up with a number.

Yes I know this is a big liability & needs to be done correctly.

[M J Mauer]

Good luck with watever you decide to do.

[traumajunkie]

Trailer repair

Good luck and make sure your insurance is up to date. I fight with my insurance all the time about jobs like this.

[eecervantes83]

Id recommend replacing the 4x4s they been compromise.

[aametalmaster]

I would cut out all of the bad and start over. I also would make the gussets larger and run it down farther to the bottom channel like it isn't in pic 2. Also not to a point at the bottom leave some more meat...Bob

[Tryagn5]

trailer material...

All of thoose 3 car car haulers are built extremely light, that trailer is likely 1/8 or 3/16 tube, they are not built like a normally fifthwheel or gooseneck, very light braced construction, i have friends who pull these trailers, with 3 cars, trailer, and truck, they gross around 33k. Thats on an f350! Most of thoose trailers do not take heavy static loads well, normally the floor falls out!
Kevin

[Portable Welder]

Good luck, Looks like a fun repair, Just go a little heavier and I bet you'll be fine.

At a quick glance its a $ 5000.00 repair, Maybe as hi as 7,000.00

[MMW]

Unfortunately I won't be doing this trailer. I dropped off his ramp today & we discussed the trailer. He doesn't want to pay to have it fixed & is looking for a 15 ton trailer (this ones 10 ton). He's going to run it as is for now.

[eecervantes83]

That thing wont make it pass dot.
Make him an offer fix it / paint & flip it.

[MMW]

The owner just called me this morning. He got a warning from DOT to get it fixed. Looks like I'll get to repair it after all. He said he'll drop it off in about 10 days.

Makes me happy as it's been real slow as of late.